ROSEVILLE, CA (MPG) -- On September 14, 2022, the Honorable Judge Horst sentenced Roy Lee Foster, age 57, to 25 years to life in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for a third strike first-degree residential burglary. 

On March 3, 2022, around 5 a.m., Foster was caught on a Ring doorbell camera video breaking into a garage and stealing a purse from a car in Auburn. The burglary was particularly frightening as there were three young children asleep in the home. Foster was dressed in all black, with a mask and red gloves, showing a level of planning by Foster proceeding the burglary.   

The Placer County Sheriff’s Office was contacted and was able to identify Foster by the Ring doorbell footage. 

Following a search of the area, Placer County Sheriff’s Office deputies found and arrested Foster along Dry Creek Road in Auburn. During the arrest, deputies found a stolen wallet belonging to a second victim. 

On May 31, 2022, the defendant was found guilty by a jury of first-degree residential burglary and receiving stolen property. The defendant was also found guilty of multiple special allegations related to his prior criminal history.  

This case shows a long history of burglary-related offenses from Foster starting from 1984. He has multiple prior convictions spanning over 38 years including theft and burglary.  

In 1993, Foster received a 14 year prison sentence after being convicted of multiple counts of first-degree residential burglary, was released from prison in 2000, and discharged from parole in 2001.  

“Foster’s crimes are numerous and extreme,” said the prosecuting district attorney. “Foster has a long history of reoffending and showed that short-term incarceration was not changing his behavior. Now he has 25 years to life to reflect on his last 38 years of crime. We thank the Placer County Sheriff’s Office for their swift work to remove this relentless burglar off our streets and our jury and judge for ensuring this is the last home Foster terrorizes.”  

Residential burglaries are extremely traumatic for the victims. While the monetary loss will fade, it is the emotional loss explained by victims of the crime that make it exceptionally disturbing. As described in court, people’s homes are their “castles,” their sanctuaries, and to have that safe place invaded is detrimental to someone’s quality of life. While only time can heal those wounds, holding burglars accountable is a step in the right direction.   

This case was prosecuted under the California three strikes law. California's three strikes sentencing law was originally enacted in 1994 and provides that a defendant convicted of a current specified felony with two or more prior strike convictions is mandated to serve a state prison term of at least 25 years to life.